Brian McCray

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wayne w

Trad climber

the nw

Aug 25, 2014 - 02:35pm PT

Hopefully you will get a chuckle out of this story, Klaus...

In the late 90's when Brian was really starting to 'fly' up El Cap routes, he had a conversation with Klaus about what he was up to. Klaus told Brian that no one was ever going to do one of his routes IAD. Brian didn't say a word. But he did have some new objectives.

Here are some of his El Cap records;

Flight of the Albatross 14:50
with Hans Florine and Kelly Simard

Muir Wall 19:56
with Nils Davis

Wall of Early Morning Light 23:43
With Ammon

The Atlantic Ocean Wall 23:38
with Ammon

Plastic Surgery Disaster 21:37
with Ammon

Get Whacked 12:49
with Ammon

Bad Seed 19:12
with Hans Florine and Wayne Willoughby

Tonihammes

Social climber

Las Vegas

Aug 25, 2014 - 03:03pm PT

I met Brian about 6 years ago when he started to bring his dog to our vet hospital. I liked Brian so much! I am shocked & saddened to hear of his passing. I just saw him a couple of weeks ago. I wish I had known how sad he was inside. It's not that we were great friends or anything, but I guess I would have told him he wasn't alone. So very tragic.

I found out about Brian's passing when our local shelter called to get some information on his dog, Diesel. Those of you who knew Brian know that Diesel wasn't just a dog to him. Diesel was family! Brian adored that dog, and Diesel adored Brian!! They told me that there is a ten day hold on Diesel, and that one of Brian's friends or family might take him. I'm really hoping that someone in Brian's life will take Diesel. I know how he felt about him & know he would not want Diesel in a shelter.

Our shelter here is overrun with Pit Bull type dogs. I have asked them to contact me if no one is able to take him. If anyone out there has any questions about him feel free to call me at 702-838-0700

My heart goes out to all of Brian's family & friends. I hope he is at peace!

redrocker

climber

Aug 25, 2014 - 03:10pm PT

Can't claim to be anymore than an acquaintance of Brian's. Wish I had know him better but his abilities were so far out of my wheelhouse that that just wasn't gonna happen. At least not in the climbing world.

That said, he always struck me as the kind of guy that even the best at our game would puff out their chest's and say "Brian McCray, oh yeah, he's a good friend of mine".

Hard to believe he's really gone. :-(

labrat

Trad climber

Auburn, CA

Aug 25, 2014 - 03:21pm PT

Sad news. Good thoughts going out to family and friends.
Erik

RP3

Big Wall climber

Twain Harte

Aug 25, 2014 - 03:44pm PT

Oh my goodness. What terrible news. Deepest condolences to family and friends. The world seems to have lost another beautiful person.

deuce4

climber

Hobart, Australia

Aug 25, 2014 - 04:03pm PT

Condolences.

Awesome dude. I met him a few times in Zion. Full of vibrant energy, he lived with passion.

Really sad news.

the albatross

Gym climber

Flagstaff

Aug 25, 2014 - 04:15pm PT

Geir thanks for the notes and reminder about those classic shirts.

redrocker

climber

Aug 25, 2014 - 04:20pm PT

Kind of silly...but now, in hindsight, a little weird.

This past Friday I walk into to my local UPS store to mail a package. There's a guy there in front of me in line and we make eye contact. He does a second take and says to me "Brian?". I answer back "No, my names not Brian". He says "Oh sorry, you look like a friend of mine, Brian McCray". I reply "Oh wow, that's funny because I know Brian too but I haven't seen him in awhile".

To make a long story even longer, we go on talking about Brian and other mutual friends that we have in common then he goes his way and I go mine and I don't really give it another thought.

Then today I see this thread about Brian's passing (on Saturday apparently) and now that brief exchange with the random stranger in the UPS store makes me say WTF!?

Even though we both have long hair and goatees I've never been mistaken for Brian McCray before. Stupid I know...but still kinda eerie now.

Ezra Ellis

Trad climber

North wet, and Da souf

Aug 25, 2014 - 04:46pm PT

My sincere condolences to his friends and family,
Brian McCray was an inspiration to us all,

Jim Donini once told me, " Yeah, Brian is the real deal"

Wish I had gotten to know him, saddened.

Check on your friends y'all, this sh!t sucks.

the albatross

Gym climber

Flagstaff

Aug 25, 2014 - 04:49pm PT

Thanks for sharing that intriguing encounter redrocker.

Here's an excerpt from around six years ago.

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Aug 25, 2014 - 04:58pm PT

Good by Brian.

What is it about the mentality that drives people to climb, and also drives a disproportionate number to suicide? I could name a bunch, but this is not the place.

RIP

thebravecowboy

climber

in the face of the fury of the funk

Aug 25, 2014 - 05:00pm PT

No connection to the man other than word of mouth. I do understand and admire and wish he coulda stuck it out 'til the flipside. Nothing like a firearm or a bigazz cliff to enable permanent decisions from temporary sentiment. Condolences to the bereaved.

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Ontario, Canada, eh?

Aug 25, 2014 - 05:26pm PT

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ammon. I know you guys were good friends, and you sure as hell did some amazing climbs.

I never even had the chance to meet Brian! Dang. How sad for everyone.

My condolences to all of Brian's friends and family.

NBB

Social climber

Boulder

Aug 25, 2014 - 05:31pm PT

Top of Native Son, July 1996.

See you on the other side.

GDavis

Social climber

SOL CAL

Aug 25, 2014 - 05:42pm PT

Wish I had met him. Heard so many amazing thing. Hurts the way he left. I wish I knew more about our world :(

Evel

Trad climber

Nedsterdam CO

Aug 25, 2014 - 06:22pm PT

Just home from my work day and see this. Well sh#t.

Brian and I lived together at the New. A real hard man in every sense of the term.

This sucks.

Via Con Dios, Brother.

rockgeir

Trad climber

Tucson, AZ

Aug 25, 2014 - 06:25pm PT

Albatross, that is the shirt! Thanks for posting the picture up. Brian sent me mine a few years ago as a gift. I gingerly put it in the closet today and plan on bringing it out when I need a little extra inspiration for a hard send. Thanks for posting it up.

Kalimon

Social climber

Ridgway, CO

Aug 25, 2014 - 06:32pm PT

Very sad that another great man felt compelled to such a final decision . . . a courageous soul has flown free of his torment. Peace to Brian and his friends and family.